Councilmember Rob Saka announces public safety investments and help for working families in 2025-26 Budget

Includes automated speed enforcement cameras and reconfiguring West Seattle's Duwamish Head to address public safety hazard

Today, Councilmember Rob Saka (District 1) is pleased to announce that his public safety priorities and support for working families have been included in the Budget Chair Dan Strauss' balancing package for the 2025-26 budget.

"I want to congratulate Budget Chair Dan Strauss on introducing a comprehensive Council balancing package that addresses critical service needs while maintaining a balanced budget," stated Councilmember Saka.

Included are Councilmember Saka'sPublic Safety priorities:

• $1.18M in 2025 and 2026 for speed enforcement cameras set-aside, including along West Seattle's Harbor-Alki Avenue to address excessive noise and public safety disturbances occurring on a daily basis which includes Executive compliance with State Law to be adopted by Council.
• $175K to implement on-street parking changes at Alki's Duwamish Head to address loud, dangerous gatherings and disturbances occurring every night.
• Increase Seattle Police Department for one position to coordinate department-wide efforts to reach the goal of hiring 30% of women officers by year 2030 to assist in reforming the culture of policing and drive recruitment and retention of women officers. Co-sponsored by Councilmember Cathy Moore.
• Council-driven funding for small scale road safety and transportation improvements in more neighborhoods across District 1 and in each Council district.
• Increase $3M for 2025-26 for programs to support RV residents' transition to shelter and permanent housing including RV storage program. Co-sponsored with Councilmember Strauss.

Additional Support for Working Families include:

• Increase Seattle Parks and Recreation by $1.5M REET/Capital Fund (2025) to convert the infield on the softball and baseball field portion of West Seattle's Fairmount Park Playfield from grass to turf using environmentally safe and eco-friendly materials.
• Additional funding for Child Care Assistance Program for low-income families to address the wait list.
• Proviso of $2M for transit and roadway improvements to ensure safe and direct access across a busy arterial for families in West Seattle's Delridge neighborhood.
• Executive Departments to report on strategies to attract food retailers to address 'food deserts' in under-served neighborhoods in District 1 (specifically Delridge, South Park, and Georgetown) and across the city.
• Increase in Homeownership Capital Production Program. Co-sponsorship with Councilmember Cathy Moore.

Additional District 1-Specific Investments include:

• $5M for 2025-26 for Seattle Chinese Garden for capital improvements, located in West Seattle (with sponsors Councilmember Strauss and Councilmember Woo).
• Increase $400K for 2025 and 2026 for Duwamish Valley Workforce and Small Business Support - includes Duwamish Valley green workforce development and small business TA and support for small and industrial businesses in South Park and Georgetown, both neighborhoods have serious environmental impacts from pollution, noise, and traffic. Sponsored by Councilmember Tanya Woo.

Councilmember Saka will continue to seek ways to provide support for other priorities, including:

• Unified Care Team to prioritize RV encampment resolutions in neighborhoods with the highest percentage of encampments.
• Increased ongoing funding to new sidewalks in Districts with highest percentage of missing sidewalks.
• Support the adoption of State Law to authorize Sound Enforcement Camera Technology and explore possible deployment in Seattle areas particularly affected by extreme noise violations.
• Seattle Police Department Hiring Plan ensuring that SPD has clear objectives, along with an effective implementation strategy with anticipated milestones to meet the Department's ambitious hiring and retention goals.
• Pothole performance report to strengthen Seattle Department of Transportation's reporting accountability metrics and transparency for this essential public service.
• Targeted support for establishing Business Improvement Areas in under-resourced neighborhoods including South Park, Georgetown, and Highland Park.

Next Steps

The budget chair's proposal serves as the foundation of the Council's budget deliberations in the weeks ahead. The amendment process will begin on Nov. 13. Additional information on the 2025-26 budget process, including the full committee calendar, can be found on the council website.

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